MSUB Library hosting panel series to recognize International Women’s History Month

Panel discussions set for March 11, 18 & 25 in the Liberal Arts building, room 205,
at 6:30 p.m.; Opening reception on March 11.

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — A century ago this year, Montana women achieved the right to vote. Two years later,
in 1916, Montana Republican Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to Congress
where she successfully sponsored legislation requiring equal pay for equal work in
federal civil service jobs.

In recognition of International Women’s History Month, Montana State University Billings
Library will host a series of panel presentations and discussions highlighting notable
women in history, like Rankin, as well as looking at the present focus among today’s
female leaders and historians.

“Making Herstory: Honoring Global Achievements of Women Past and Present and Inspiring
Change” is free and open to the public. Panels will be held at 6:30 p.m. on March
11, 18 and 25 in the Liberal Arts Building, room 205, with an opening reception on
Tuesday, March 11.

Started in 1910, International Women’s History Month celebrates the social, political
and economic achievements while challenging the status quo for women’s equality and
vigilance in inspiring positive change. It all began when female activists in Europe
and the United States demanded that women—as workers, mothers and citizens—have the
right to work, the right to vote and to hold public office. Under the leadership of
the German socialist-feminist Clara Zetkin, International Women’s Day was officially
established and to be recognized on March 8.

While International Women’s Day was celebrated throughout the twentieth century, activists
in the United States during the late 1970s began creating programs which honored women
in history. During the 1980s, “Women’s History Week” was expanded to “Women’s History
Month” in the United States, also celebrated in March, to promote gender equality
and recognize the importance of female contributions to all areas of society.

“It is important to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women in politics,
culture and society on a local, national and global scale,” Dr. Jennifer Lynn, MSUB
assistant professor of history, said. “This program provides a forum to discuss current
challenges that women face and demonstrates that we all have the possibility of inspiring
change for the advancement of women and gender equality.”

PHOTO ABOVE: A Montana native, Jeannette Rankin campaigned between 1909 and 1914 on behalf of
women’s suffrage. In 1912 she was elected as the National American Woman Suffrage
Society’s legislative secretary. In 1916, Rankin was elected to serve Montana in the
House of Representatives. When she took office in 1917, she became the first female
congressperson. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress, 1909.